Gun control: Six proposals that may be discussed after Connecticut shooting

In this photo provided by the Newtown Bee, Connecticut State Police lead a line of children from the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. on Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 after a shooting at the school. (AP Photo/Newtown Bee, Shannon Hicks) MANDATORY CREDIT: NEWTOWN BEE, SHANNON HICKS

Gun control: Six proposals that may be discussed after Connecticut shooting

In the wake of a tragic school shooting in Connecticut, President Barack Obama and others have called for new gun-control legislation.

Storified by Digital First Media · Mon, Dec 17 2012 12:57:33

In the wake of a tragic school shooting in Connecticut, President Barack Obama and others have called for new gun-control legislation. The exact proposals are not yet known, but supporters will likely draw upon recent unsuccessful efforts. Below are six restrictions that have been discussed in recent years.

Restricting assault weapons

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Semiautomatic weapons are displayed in a Montgomery, Ala., police station in 2004. (AP Photo/Haraz Ghanbari).

From 1994 to 2004, federal law barred the manufacture of 19 types of semi-automatic weapons for civilian use. Guns were banned for having such features as a pistol grip to make it easier to fire repeatedly. There have been a dozen unsuccessful attempts to reinstate the ban since it expired.

Restricting conversion kits

Though the federal ban on assault weapons expired, some states have passed their own laws. In California, which has the toughest gun laws in the nation, some manufacturers have gotten around an assault weapons ban by selling “conversion kits” which add those features to other guns. A state senator has proposed banning those tools.

Restricting high-capacity magazines

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A pair of ammunition magazines, one that can hold 10 shots, right, and a 20-round magazine are displayed for a photo in 2011. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Adding the terrorist watch list to background checks

The federal government maintains a much-criticized terrorist watch list with more than a million names. People on the watch list were cleared to buy guns nine times out of 10, according to a government report. Lautenberg has proposed adding the watch list to the background check system.

Restricting gun sales to the mentally ill

The federal background check system includes records of people who are seriously mentally ill, but some say it is not extensive enough. The shooters at Virginia Tech and Arizona were not on the list, for example. Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah said he would support stronger measures.